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The precisely executed sportswear of designer Mitsuhiro Matsuda was coveted throughout the 80s and 90s. With boutiques in Manhattan, Paris and his native Japan, he introduced the world to an aesthetic based on a blend of English tailoring with traditional Japanese techniques.

Following Matsuda’s death in 2008 and a short absence from the market, the last remaining product to bear his name is the eyewear line. It is imbued with his sense of style and reflects his appreciation of craftsmanship.

Many of the artisans who made Matsuda glasses up until the late 90s are involved in their creation today. Like the first line, today’s Matsuda eyewear is crafted by hand in the small town of Sabae, Japan of only the finest materials, including celluloid acetate, titanium, sterling silver, 18K solid gold, and 22.5K gold plating.

Our most recent arrivals feature new matte acetate colours including grey crystal, champagne and gradient lavender. The beautiful laser etched filigree on each frame’s metal components is a true hallmark of the past and current collections. New metal finishes include brushed silver, brushed gold and rose gold.

We invite you to marvel at the new assortment of Matsuda Eyewear at Josephson Opticians’ Flagship location.

Should you be mountaineering at high altitudes this winter or merely bracing against the elements in an urban setting, our new assortment of sunglasses providing stylish coverage will serve you well in either setting.

Rose goldplating adorned many frames featured during the SILMO World Optical Fair held in Paris. Warm and flush, the colouring flatters most skin tones and is a nuanced alternative to the more common yellow.

In Rebecca Mead’s New Yorker Magazine article entitled The Semiotics of “Rose Gold” she suggests that “it is gold that has an inclination to be something else. Rose gold is perverse”. It is also current and conspicuous in new collections by Theirry Lasry, Oliver Peoples and LINDBERG Eyewear.

A rose colouring on titanium from LINDBERG

The varying percentage of copper alloy combined with gold influences the appearance of plating. Pink gold uses the least amount of copper, followed by rose gold, and red gold has the highest copper content.

This past September I attended Silmo, a critical international optical industry trade show held in Paris, France. The event features innovations in frame design and fabrication. The most gratifying aspect of my experience at Silmo was the realization that Josephson Opticians is already a purveyor of the majority of the industry’s exceptional product.

We have secured and maintained relationships with truly innovative and influential designers and distributors. I value these relationships more having seen how many concepts and designs are copied to varying degrees of quality. It only makes sense to identify the true innovations and to associate with the companies investing in the research and development advancing the trends in eyewear design.

Anne et Valentin, Bevel, Lindberg, Matsuda , Mykita and Sama are examples of the brands leading the industry forward in respect to advancements in fabrication. Their designers encourage our feedback and assessment of the direction their styles are heading.

Almost a month since making purchases at Silmo, some of the merchandise has already arrived at our shops. Here are examples of new releases:

13th-century detailing on the doors of Sainte-Chapelle, Île de la Cité, Paris

As an alternative to opaque black, Sama offers a palette of warm and neutral acetate colours such as vintage rose, matte beige and taupe.

The trend towards thinner acetate fronts combined with metal temples is exemplified by this frame by Oliver Peoples. Shades of grey and crystal acetates remain strong features of many collections.

Alain Mikli offers impactful frames featuring a depth of colour and dimension achieved by laminating contrasting sheets of acetate. The gravitas associated with a thick, opaque frame seems passé when one considers the ‘lighter’ appearance of these alternatives.

Our most recent arrivals of Matsuda sunglasses evoke the elegant trappings of the fin-de-siècle. In an era were the visual arts and literature favored artifice over nature and sophistication over simplicity, curious and unconventional forms emerged.

If we could transport these frames back to the late nineteenth century they would have been appreciated then as surely as they are now. One could anticipate the decay of social order in true Gothic style while adorned by these marvels of intricate detail and refinement. These fascinating indulgences are currently available at our flagship location.